A Florida Affidavit of Heirship is a simple form used to transfer property instead of going through probate when a person dies without a will. The Florida Affidavit of Heirship is the instrument of choice when all heirs agree to not probate the will.

In most situations, the surviving spouse or children compose the affidavit to establish ownership of the community property owned by the deceased as long as the deceased’s children are the children of the surviving spouse and the property is not valued at an amount greater than the limits set by Florida state law.

The Florida Heirship Affidavit is used by a local court in Florida to establish ownership of all personal and real property not identified by a will. A Florida Heirship Affidavit is recorded in official land records in the local county office.

How to Use an Affidavit of Heirship in Florida

The Heirship process in Florida does not have to be initiated right after the passing of the decedent, however, it must be started within a few years after the person died. There must be no will and there must be no need for administration of the deceased’s estate.

The determination of Heirship proceedings in Florida must be started in the county where the deceased lived, or in a county where the property of the deceased is located. If the decedent did not own any real property, then the proceedings may be started in the county where the decedent had personal property.

Who do I get to Witness a Florida Affidavit of Heirship

The person witnessing the affidavit should not be an heir, related to the deceased or have any interest in the estate. When utilizing an Affidavit of Heirship in Florida, the witnesses must swear to the following conditions:

They knew the decedent.

The decedent did not owe any debts.

The true identity of the family members and heirs.

The person died on a certain date in a certain place.

The witness will not gain financially from the estate.

So, you can’t just grab a stranger on the street to witness a Florida Affidavit of Heirship, he or she must be disinterested in the estate. Afterwards, the Florida Heirship Affidavit must be signed by a notary public in the presence of the witnesses.

Florida Affidavit of Heirship Example

An Affidavit of Heirship in Florida is used to expressly state the heirs of a deceased person. It is used to verify ownership of personal and real property. It is then recorded in official Florida land records to establish ownership.

The following is a simple example of how to use a Florida Affidavit of Heirship:

A decedent passes away without a will in Florida. The decedent has only one heir and owns a small parcel of real property. If the heir decides to sell the property, the heir obtains a Florida Affidavit of Heirship to record the deed to the estate. The witnesses of the Affidavit of Heirship in Florida should not be an heir of the deceased or someone interested in the estate. The Florida Affidavit of Heirship must then be signed by a notary public. The heir now legally owns and can sell the property.

A Florida Affidavit of Heirship is a straightforward form that can be filled out quickly to transfer ownership of property to the heirs of a deceased person.